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Bathroom Break: Will Inauguration Have Enough?

by Blue Crush | January 18, 2009 at 01:10 am

221 views | 39 Recommendations | 11 comments

If the expected two million people are showing up to the inauguration, where is everybody going to go to the bathroom? Yes, leave it to a woman to think of that.

In all, there will be 5,000 port-a-potties from about 10 different vendors for Barack Obama's inauguration. On Thursday, they stood ready on the mall, port-a-potty-to-port-a-potty, some green, some blue, others gray.

The big question: will they be able to handle the call — er, nature's call — of the up to 2 million people?

Bill Line of National Park Service says that you estimate one port-a-potty for every 300 people, so 5,000 should handle 1.5 million people. Also, women don't take chances, we have to keep lots of spare stuff in those bags we carry, including... tissues.

There are Port-a-John alternatives. Museums and public buildings will be open, and expecting colossal bathroom traffic.
Inauguration marketers have covered every angle. For crowds standing in Washington's freezing weather to hear the incoming president take the oath of office, they're offering Barack Obama Stadium Cozies bearing his campaign logo and Obama Rain Ponchos emblazoned with his face.

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Jordan Yerman

at 08:02 on January 18th, 2009

Yeah, what's up with that? Whenever I see footage of the Times Square New Year's Eve madness (which I studiously avoided), I always wondered what one would do, between the layers and the crowds, if the toilet were needed. Has anyone out there had to deal with such a moment of urgency? I'd be thinking empty super-sized drink cup.

Barry Artiste

at 05:43 on January 18th, 2009

I mentioned something like this in yesterdays story, you would think if people are needed to root for the president and his motorcade, there would be enough Porta Potties.

I want to put most recommended, but it is no where to be found here, but once I post this comment it magically appears for some reason. Guess NP needs to fix this, as it happens to almost every story I visit Blue.

Barry Artiste

at 05:44 on January 18th, 2009

See Blue, now it appears after the fact, how frustrating.,

Blue Crush

at 13:46 on January 18th, 2009

Only at Caribana, I wasn't impressed! (in all fairness, their port-a-potties have since improved) But now, that's the first thing I think of when I think "public event."

My daughter did the last Woodstock, and the public facilities there were so treacherous, that they had to go get a hotel!

Maybe we're just a little spoiled in Canada.

Pythiian1

at 17:44 on January 18th, 2009

It was pretty funny when some reporters asked Sen. Feinstein about the low number of port-a-potties, and she couldn't quite answer the question. Apparently, that's not the final number because the National Park Service representative said that the PS is providing the rest of port-a-potties for people in the Mall.

Yuliya Talmazan

at 17:02 on January 19th, 2009

Interesting post. Thanks.

Amy Judd

at 19:31 on January 19th, 2009

I never thought about this..

Fripouille

at 06:31 on January 20th, 2009

Jordan, my vote goes to an empty wine bottle, like the one I used at a Bowie open-air concert a couple of years back.

The advantage is that you can cork it afterwards, so there's no risk if spillage!!!

Blue Crush

at 17:02 on January 21st, 2009

Thanks, all, for your thoughts. I've read some blogs, most say it wasn't so bad. Here's one's thoughts: "I prepared for a long wait. But, I walked right into the Porta-pot with no problems. No line, plenty of tissue and hand sanitizer ... Porta-pots have come a long way."
Some even used them for viewing, picture taking, or even getting their bearings! Wonder what the people inside thought?